The Canadian National Council convened for its latest round of meetings on Tuesday evening, Nov. 29, in Abbotsford, British Columbia. The Council heard reports of each Feast of Tabernacles site across Canada. All agreed that the messages seemed to be especially inspiring this year.

Following the Feast updates, Edwin van Pelt gave a short synopsis of the financial side of the work along with some interesting statistics. One very encouraging fact is that the Canadian office had already added more subscribers to the list (with a month left in the year) than they did during the entire 12 months of last year.

Some of the office staff had attended a law seminar for nonprofit organizations in early November. Anthony Wasilkoff had a handout for the Council that summarized many of the issues discussed at that seminar.

Media Plans Include Magazine Ad and Radio

The Media Team's report presented some interesting plans for the coming year. An across-country ad in a magazine is planned. For the first time, United is anticipating the possibility of testing a radio program in Canada. Some details will be worked out before determining which station will be used, but several are being discussed prior to choosing what will be best at this time. Please pray for God to open the right doors for this project and lead those responsible to those doors.

The second portion of the Church's mission is to feed the flock. The Ministerial Services Team has been busily working on upcoming plans to further this mission. In the report to Council, Robert Berendt said the team has been working on a five-year plan. Currently, outlines for Leadership Development and Ministerial Development programs are being worked on.

On Wednesday, Bill Stephaniuk talked to the Council about human resource policies. Mr. Stephaniuk has been working free of charge to help the Church in Canada audit its current policies. He left a sample policy and relevant procedures for the Council to see. His presentation gave Council members much food for thought as to how to combine the values of the Church with the needs of legal documentation.

Thursday morning started out with the Strategic/Finance Committee report. Larry DeLong, on behalf of the committee, proposed dates and places for Council meetings for next year. Following that, the Task Force for Conflict Resolution presented their research and suggestions. This project was then given to the Canadian Ministerial Services Team to create the policies and procedures needed.

Preparing for the Canadian National Conference

Robert Berendt reported on the work of the Governance/Ethics/Pastoral Committee. They proposed and Council approved some changes to the Rules of Order for the Canadian National Conference. The National Conference will determine next spring if these changes are acceptable.

Each year the National Council must prepare a Strategic Plan, Operations Plan and balanced budget to present to the National Conference. Earlier in the year, the Strategic Plan had been finalized. The Operations Plan and budget were thoroughly reviewed and finalized. If approved in March, these plans and the budget will guide the Canadian work during the 2006-2007 fiscal year.

Another duty the National Council is charged with is preparing an agenda for the annual National Conference meeting. This time, it will be a teleconference and is scheduled for Sunday, March 5, 2006, at 11 a.m., Eastern Time.

This round of Council meetings ended on a happy/sad note. It was the last face-to-face meeting that Glen White will attend. When Glen and Connie White moved to Montana earlier this year, he agreed to finish off his term on the National Council. That term will end in March.

The National Council gave them a small token of appreciation for serving in Canada on the Council and in the ministry for almost six years. Mr. White took the time to give a short farewell address. They will be missed!